Patriotic Front's plan to tackle domestic violence

THE EDITOR: Earlier this week, our country mourned the tragic loss of yet another young woman, reportedly beaten to death by someone close to her. Her life, like so many others, was abruptly cut short, underscoring the persistent issue of domestic violence in TT.

We have lost another sister, daughter, mother to senseless violence. The murder of Shameia Went is another painful reminder of the unacceptable and tragic consequences of domestic violence. A story all too frequent in our society, with nearly 20,000 reported cases of domestic violence over the past decade; and 3,066 cases in 2022, according to the latest police statistics.

Shameia, like all those before her, ought not to be a mere statistic. She was a bright young woman with a strong future ahead of her, violently taken from us far too soon.

For the past decade, governments have failed to adequately address this issue.

From the years 2011-2015, TT recorded over 10,000 cases of domestic violence. From 2016-2020, under the current government, another 6,721.

Research reveals that nearly 42 per cent of women stay in relationships which involve domestic violence either because of guilt, economic dependence, social pressure, or the need to keep the family’s dignity, to name a few reasons. It is because of these complexities that a multifaceted approach involving legal, social and cultural interventions is required.

The Patriotic Front, if elected into office, will systemically deal with domestic violence as a national epidemic, with the urgency it so desperately needs.

That urgency will come in the form of strengthening the legal framework to enhance protection for victims; an increase in funding and resources for shelters and support services; enhanced training for law enforcement and judicial officials to effectively handle cases involving domestic violence; and engaging in community outreach to change cultural attitudes towards this national ill.

Socially, we must destigmatise domestic violence and bring it out into the open. Failure to identify and address these factors will unfortunately encourage more incidences of domestic violence, leading to more of our daughters, sisters, mothers, aunts and wives being gone too soon.

This is not a reality that our nation can afford to continue to bear witness to. The Patriotic Front commits to tackling this issue head on. We will not only address immediate needs but will also work towards the long-term cultural change essential for prevention.

DR WINZY ADAMS

Patriotic Front